Two chefs from Heston Blumenthal's Michelin-starred restaurant The Fat Duck have been killed in a road accident in Hong Kong.

The death of the two staff members, aged 30 and 34, in the incident involving a taxi and two doubledecker buses has been confirmed by the restaurant in Bray, Berkshire.

The chefs were a British man called Jorge Ivan Arrango Herrera with the other being a Swedish national.

A restaurant spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that two members of Heston Blumenthal's culinary team were tragically killed in a car accident in Hong Kong.

"They were both senior members and great and dear friends. Two uniquely talented young chefs that were loved by everyone who worked with them. They will be sadly and deeply missed."

A Hong Kong police spokesman confirmed that three men died in the accidenton Monday, and 56 people were injured, with the casualties ranging in age from seven months to 90 years.

He said that the first bus hit two private cars at the junction of Chai Wan Road and A Kung Ngam Road before crossing into the oncoming carriageway.

He said: "It then rammed on to a taxi and a bus which were travelling uphill. The taxi was trapped between the two buses. After the impact, the 53-year-old taxi driver and two foreign male passengers of the taxi, aged 30 and 34, were trapped inside the compartment and were rescued by firemen.

"Sustaining serious injuries, they were rushed to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern hospital in an unconscious state, where they were later certified dead."

He added: "The 57-year-old bus driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and was released on police bail. Investigations by the special investigation team of traffic, Hong Kong Island, are under way."